ON THE RELATION OF SLOVENE INTELLECTUALS IN BOHEMIA AND CROATIA TO JEWS

ABSTRACTThe contribution is a fragmentary survey of the relation of a part of Slovene intellectuals, temporary and permanent emigrants in Bohemia and in Croatia to the there living Jews. By political conviction, they were mainly nationally conscious intellectuals enthusiastic with Slavic mutuality; some of them were Russophiles. They went to study in Bohemia voluntarily, as a sign of protest against unequal position of Slavs in the state. They expected a genuine Slavic environment/atmosphere, which they actually experienced. In contrast to Slovenia, they were in Bohemia confronted with the existence of the Jewish community that did not exist in Slovenia. Consequently, they could witness the negative attitude of the Czechs towards Jews and through it – at least some, for example Marn and Radešček – deepened their own declinatory standpoints. Specific political circumstances in Croatia forced those employed by the authorities and those who because of their political convictions could not find work at home and forcibly “landed” in Croatia not to declare publicly their political convictions or the negative attitude towards Jews. Alternatively, they published them, for example Trdina, after they have left Croatia.